ScanCat Plus or Win96?

[Terrie]

For a Radio Shack PRO-96 what program is highly recommended - ScanCat Lite Plus or Win96?

 

[kg4ojj]

Terrie,

I've had several R/S scanners and using Don Starr's WINxx software, it's been easy to program them. The same cable, usually, programs the whole bunch and up through WIN95 the software was free.

Now with Pro-96, the price is reasonable at $30.00. I've bought it and it works well for the -96. There may be a trial version?

I have no experience with any other types of scanner software, but the WINxx series programs as easy as any Yaesu portable I've owned.

 

[ka3jjz]

For a Radio Shack PRO-96 what program is highly recommended - ScanCat Lite Plus or Win96?

Terrie - it's kinda an open question. Win96 has abilities that Scancat Lite doesn't; primary among them is the ability to open up the PRO96 for UHF Milair reception (whether the scanner performs well in that band is entirely another matter). AFAIK you can't directly update the V folders with Scancat Lite Plus; I believe you can do that with Win96. Data in the scanner world is not static; being able to update the folders might be important down the road, if not immediately.

On the other hand, if you have more than one scanner that Scancat Lite supports, and all you need is programming support, then using one program to support all the scanners you own makes sense. There's less of a problem of data conversions and so forth in this case.

Win96 is the acknlwedged champ, no doubt of that. If the PRO96 is the only scanner you own, it might make sense to use that software. I didn't particularly like Scancat Lite when I did my review; it wasn't well tested and the interface is very clumsy to get used to.

I should stress that the NatComm database that you can subscribe is just like any other; it's prone to being badly out of date (it certainly was for my home in Anne Arundel county, Md.). Computer Aided Technologies is not affiliated with NatComm, so the data issue is not their problem. But if you're unfamiliar with frequencies in your area, and you are relying on this along with Scancat Lite, you are liable to be disappointed. You're better off with a local group (such as those on Yahoo) and seeing if someone has a file for your area.

That being said, support on both packages is quite good. Don Starr is found on many email reflectors, while Jim Springer can often be found on the Scancat Yahoo group.

73s Mike